Chapter 2

By: Cat Paws

I didn't sleep that much this past night, my mind still trying to wrap itself around what happened. I decide to review the events of the night before, believing that perhaps I had missed something that would explain why he is acting in such a strange way.

Once the light had died down, I found him easily enough. He was just standing there in the forest with his eyes closed, something I don't think he normally does. Then again, with the way he's been acting lately, who knows.

Anyway, we started to head back to the house and I could have sworn I heard him say something. Twice at that. Am I losing it, too? Whatever he has must be catchy.

I look up, feeling the stare of someone's eyes on me. Staring back at me are a pair of pale violet eyes. Eyes that could unnerve anyone, make them quiver in their intense gaze. I look away, feeling like a coward for not facing them as I always do. For some reason, I just can't this time.

He begins to make me even more uncomfortable by just sitting there, watching me. I don't attempt to speak, and he seems to be waiting for something. What could he be waiting for?

For me to break down and run away from him and his watchful gaze? Well he is about to get that much from me. I rise and head for the door to go anywhere to get away from him and his eyes.

"Cye, wait." I stop, placing a hand on the door frame.

"Wait for what?" My voice comes out hard and a little cold. I look back at him and find that he in not as intimidating as a few minutes ago. This catches me by surprise.

"I'm sorry for just know. I was just... amazed, I guess you could say." He truly means this, I can tell. I'm slightly awed by his sudden change in expression and temperament. I, also, start to calm down, my earlier tenseness melting away.

"Amazed at what?" I ask, deciding that perhaps this is as good a time as any to get some answers from him. He gestures, indicating for me to sit. I obey, and slightly indicate for him to continue.

"Hmmm, where do I begin?" I watch as his expression changes. He appears to be in deep thought, his eyes focused on some point on the floor.

"Anywhere would be good." I say, in hopes that it would make it easier on him. I suddenly get the feeling that this is very hard for him. What could be causing this?

I wait patently as he musters up the courage to say something. Finally, he looks up at me, directly into my eyes, and opens his mouth to speak.

Nothing comes out, for he hears the sounds of the others coming closer. He shuts his mouth, looking towards the door. I also look, expecting the guys to come bursting in any minute with their cheery faces ready to make some sort of mischief, some distraction.

"Let's go outside." I glance at Sage, who is already at the door. He turns, waiting for me to follow. His eyes are pleading with me to come, so how can I not?

"Okay." I say quietly and follow. As we go outside, I begin to wonder why we are leaving the other three with basically no explanation. It's as though Sage wants to keep this just between the two of us, strange.

As we leave the house, I can hear my best friend make a loud entrance into the room that we were formally in. The surprise of finding the place empty is also heard as I close the door behind me. Sorry, buddy, but Sage and I have business to attend to, I think?

"Sage-"

"Just follow. Explanations will be made soon." We continue in silence to the... lake? Why are we going there? Geez, I hate being left in the dark. He's being so mysterious.

I look around at the foliage, the wind rustling things out of its way, to get my mind off of my frustrations. My eyes follow the swaying of the leaves and branches, not really paying attention to the not as interesting ground.

Suddenly, my foot becomes caught on something and I become fast friends with the ground. I hit it hard and my vision blurs a little. I shake my head to clear it, still dazed from the impact. Serves me right for not watching where I was going.

I feel him help me to stand, then practically carry me the rest of the way. "Are you all right?" my support asks.

"I'll be fine. Just a little dazed is all." I'm placed on the sand at the water's edge.

"Good." Is all the response I get from him. I look back for him and find that his is no where to be seen. "Sage?"

I stand, my eyes searching the trees and bushes. I may not see him, but I know that he is near by. Why are you playing these games with me? I am not a toy, I think angrily.

I almost know that he heard my words, even if they were not spoken out loud. I turn to face the lake, my anger towards him growing. If he were not a friend, he would all ready be dead.

The shimmering of the sun on the water's surface distracts me from my thoughts. The water is so beautiful. The waves slowly flowing in on one another, combining and generating a life of their own.

On the surface of the water, a figure of some sort begins to emerge. This figure is using the sun's reflection on the water to conceal itself. It appears about at the center of the lake and is now turning around until it sees me on the beach. It comes at me with long strides, moving fairly fast.

I call my sub armor instinctively, preparing for battle. My mind is swimming with questions as to what is going on, but I push all that aside, for the moment.

Then, out of no where, a sharp stream of lightning comes from behind me. Another figure rushes past me aiming directly for the other. As the second figure flew past, a warning flashed through my mind.

The two figures met each other half way towards me. Their clash causes a great disturbance in the water and surrounding air, setting off a bizarre light. It is like the meeting of two titans in battle.

I block my eyes from their blaze but continue to watch their battle. A title wave comes my way and I call forth my full armor of the Torrent.

Some how, I manage to deflect the wave with one of my own. I decide to help the second figure battle the first. I dive into the water, where the fight has moved, and swim to them. I take my place beside the creature of lightning to assist him.

Our attacker is one I have never seen before. Nor is my... ally? I figure I should follow the lightning's lead and improvise from there. I can not really make out who the lightning is, but it seems right to be fighting along side him.

"You will not take him!" yells the lightning. Despite my combat abilities and powers in the water, it seems that he is trying to protect me.

"I can take care of myself," I claim, and thrust a blast of current at our attacker. This sends him towards the water depths. My second attack is accompanied by an electric current.

The attacker recovers quickly from the blow, however the electric current seems to have injured him. "You can't protect him, Halo. You're too weak alone." Halo? I look at my battle partner with surprise. I still can not see him clearly. Why is that?


"Get out of here, Torrent! I can handle this." A blast from our attacker comes flying at us, at me. I attempt to dodge the attack, but I can't move.

My body no longer wants to obey my commands to move. I begin to black out, the surroundings becoming more blurred then they normally should be. My lungs begin to burn, not for air, but from something else. A piercing scream of anger and agony erupts from somewhere beyond my reach as I fall into darkness.